Hyperliquid Delisted Solana-Based Meme Coin JELLY After a Dramatic Price Surge That Nearly Caused a $12M Vault Loss

The decentralized exchange Hyperliquid has made headlines after delisting the Solana-based meme coin JELLYJELLY (JELLY) following a dramatic price

Decentralized exchange Hyperliquid has come under scrutiny after delisting Solana-based meme coin JELLY following a dramatic price surge that nearly caused a $12 million vault loss. The incident has sparked heated debates on market manipulation, DeFi governance, and the true nature of decentralization.

The scenario unfolded on March 26, when a trader opened a massive $6 million short position on JELLY using 20x leverage. Subsequently, the trader began buying large quantities of JELLY in the spot market, incrementally increasing the token’s price by a staggering 400–500%.

This unexpected rally had dire consequences for Hyperliquid’s Hyperliquidity Provider (HLP) vault, which was left with an unrealized loss of nearly $12 million. If the price had continued to rise, it could have led to the complete liquidation of the vault, potentially bankrupting the exchange.

To avert further losses and potential liquidation, Hyperliquid’s validators intervened, voting to delist the JELLY perpetual futures contracts and perform a force-settlement at a fixed price of $0.0095 per token. This move neutralized the manipulative strategy and ultimately resulted in a net gain of $703,000 for the platform.

However, while this action ultimately saved Hyperliquid, it also brought criticism regarding the platform’s governance and decision-making process. Some traders, such as Spelli, recognized the necessity of Hyperliquid’s actions in managing risk, highlighting the fact that the actions of a few should not burden the majority.

Others, like Gracy Chen, CEO of cryptocurrency exchange Bitget, slammed the decision as “immature, unethical, and unprofessional.” Chen went on to criticize the actions of Hyperliquid’s validators, comparing them to those of centralized exchanges like FTX before its collapse.

This criticism suggests that while Hyperliquid presents itself as a decentralized platform, its decision-making process may be centralized after all.

The incident also drew criticism from Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, who questioned the level of decentralization within Hyperliquid. As Hayes pointed out, if validators can step in and force-settle positions at their discretion, then the platform may not be as decentralized as it claims.

Following the incident, Hyperliquid’s native token, HYPE, saw a sharp decline of 15%, as investors reacted to the unfolding controversy. The event has brought a new perspective to the challenges that DeFi platforms face in maintaining a balance between market integrity, risk management, and the principles of decentralization.

This case study also highlights the risks of low-liquidity tokens being manipulated through leveraged positions. For DeFi platforms to thrive, they need stronger safeguards against such strategies while maintaining transparency and trust.

As the cryptocurrency industry continues to evolve, Hyperliquid’s handling of the JELLY incident serves as a critical case study. Whether this will erode confidence in the platform or push it toward refining its governance remains to be seen. One thing is clear: the fine line between decentralization and intervention in DeFi is becoming more complex than ever.